Bedfordshire residents urged to avoid bonfires as wildfire risk remains very high

Bedfordshire residents urged to avoid bonfires as wildfire risk remains very high john.day Fri 31/07/2026 2:52pm 31 July 2026 Bedfordshire is currently experiencing a 'Very High' wildfire risk, according to the Fire Severity Index, with fire crews experiencing a significant increase in incidents involving bonfires and other outdoor fires. With major wildfires currently affecting communities across the UK, local authorities are warning that Bedfordshire is not immune to the threat. Record-breaking temperatures The combination of record-breaking temperatures during June and July and a prolonged period of dry weather has left grassland, vegetation and open spaces particularly vulnerable. In these conditions, it can take just a single spark for a fire to spread rapidly and become difficult to control. Mark Garrett, Head of Protection and Response at Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: We are now seeing the effects of a long, hot summer. Our crews are dealing with a noticeable increase in call outs to outdoor fire-related incidents. These incidents are often avoidable and can take considerable time and resources to contain due to the exceptionally dry conditions across Bedfordsh